Rabi crop sowing crosses record 645 lakh hectare this year

The Dollar Business Bureau

The total area sown under Rabi crops across India crossed 645.12 lakh hectares till February 3 this year as compared to 610.44 lakh hectare at the same time in 2016. Pulses and wheat have recorded a maximum area under sowing.

“As per preliminary reports received from the States, the total area sown under Rabi crops as on February 3, 2017, stands at 645.12 lakh hectares as compared to 610.44 lakh hectare this time in 2016,” the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement on Friday.

“Wheat and pulses have registered record sowing in terms of area,” it added.

Wheat has been transplanted to an area of 317.81 lakh hectares this year, as compared to 297.25 lakh hectares in 2015-16.

In 2016-17 until February 3, the area under rice cultivation was 25.64 lakh hectares against the 29.03 lakh hectares in the same period a year ago.

This year, the area under pulses is 159.72 lakh hectares, more than the normal area of 140.68 lakh hectares. Pulses were sown in 143.70 lakh hectares of area in 2015-16.

The area sown under coarse cereals crop is 57.61 lakh hectares, while it was 61.05 lakh hectares in the corresponding period a year ago.

This year, the area sown under oilseeds is 84.34 lakh hectares against 79.42 lakh hectares area last year.